Mine Dump Reclamation Using Tickle Grass
Principal Investigator: Dr. Paul Sawyer
pknudsen@mtech.edu
This project attempted to determine the mine dump reclamation potential for a population of Agrostis hiemalis (Walt.) B.S.P., ticklegrass. Ticklegrass ranges from Alaska to Newfoundland south to Florida and west to Texas and California. Thus, this grass occurs in all 48 of the contiguous United States plus Alaska. Ticklegrass is a perennial, growing in dense tufts with many slender culms 6" to 24" high. It grows in almost pure stands or as widely dispersed plants in moist meadows or forest openings. Ticklegrass was collected from three sites, the Badger Mine site, near Butte, MT, the Beaver Pond site, north of Butte, and from the Bridger Plants Material Center in Bridger, Montana. The population from the Bridger Center originated from the Norris Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park. All three of these sites receive similar climatic conditions, but the soil conditions at the Badger Mine site consist of mine tailings. It was suspected that the Badger population was an ecotype within the species suitable for mine dump reclamation. The three samples were transplanted in the Montana Tech greenhouse. Data analysis was conducted for height, basal area, biomass, vigor, appearance of the plant, and state of the flower head. To determine if the Badger population was an ecotype adapted to the harsh conditions of a mine dump. Height and basal area data partially validated the ecotype hypothesis, but it could not be confirmed without a longer term study.
Activity IV, Project 17
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